Test post

I know it has been FOREVER since I last posted.

I post my walking to Facebook but I would like to post to my blog as well.
So here is the link to my walk today (that I should not have gone on).

http://runkeeper.com/user/LisaHetherington/activity/60017632

Toodles!

Father's Day

Hi everyone.

I am not sure why but I am much more emotional on Father's Day this year than in previous years.  I was reading a lot of nice, touching, poeteic tributes to fathes today on FB.  Then my friend posted this update:

Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing Dad's out there...and EXTRA warm wishes to those for whom this is a tough day. xo

And then I saw the Google logo for today:

And I lost it.  Traci asked why are you crying? I miss my dad, I told her.  I'm sorry she said.  Then Trina gave me a kiss.

The girls made Gerry's favourite type of cake for him.  He appreciated it.  :))

Gerry and I had a great trip to Boston this weekend for the Stanley Cup parade.  Pictures and more details to follow.  It was a trial run for our 2 week trip in July to South Carolina and Kentucky.

Toodles!

Anyone want to join a walking club in Hamilton????

So far it is a club of one. :)  I cannot find another one in Hamilton that meets more than once/week except for the one that walks Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings when I am at church. Not an option.

My friend, A, has inspired me.  I cannot run half marathon run like she did but I CAN walk!  My first goal is to get up to 5kms at once!   Right now my limit is about 1.5-2 kms.  I chose 5 kms because it is a nice round number and because it is approximately how far it is on the Hamilton (accessible I have been told) walking trails to get to the new pedestrian bridge over the highway and to the beach on the other side!  The beach!!  I can bus it home from there.  How about the out-there dream of being able to walk both ways??!!!


A walking club would be great because I could meet more people. I want to walk more, get out, increase my fitness and endurance, meet some new friends and maybe lose some weight too! Tell your friends! Message me or comment if you are interested.  I live a VERY sheltered life right now and that is not pleasing to God.  I am certainly being a light on a hill.  I am hidden right now, being selfish and not getting out and about and sharing God's love.


Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

That is going to change.  I am going to change.


What I have eaten today:
very late Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut butter bars crumbled into it

Lunch
no lunch on account of the late breakfast

Dinner
sausages, mashed potatoes, veggies

EDIT: that lunch I didn't eat?  I ate it at 9 pm.  I was hungry!  The other half of yesterday's panzarotti. YUM!

PLUS
ONE cup of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate
1 Mudslide

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Visitor from Toronto!

My aunt came to visit me from Toronto on Tuesday and she treated me to lunch.  We had a good time! She got stuck in BAD traffic on the QEW so we had less time together that we thought we would have.  She dropped me off downtown on her way out of the city and I walked King/Bay to Main/Wellington 1.4 kms.

PS Wasn't that a brutal hockey game on Monday night??!!  I hope Vancouver got all of that out of their system.


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut butter bars crumbled into it

Lunch
half of a pepperoni, mushroom and bacon panzarotti

Dinner
1 bowl of Oatmeal Crisp nat 9 pm.  I was full from that panzarotti at lunch!

PLUS
ONE cup of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Spending time with friends again!!

I have sent emails to some friends and sisters asking if we can get together when it is convenient for them. Like we used to.  :(  Someone asked me not too long ago about how I spend my days.  I was convicted!!  What AM I doing besides some walking by myself and errands and computer time and time with God?  I need to be doing things WITH OTHER PEOPLE!!!

After leaving the chiropractor on Monday, I walked 1.2 kms.

And then I had lunch with a sister from church.  I have started initiating again with regards to lunches and coffees with friends and sisters.  (Although what am I going to have when I used to always have coffee now that I am basically having 1 coffee in the morning?)It feels so good to be out and about again!!  I have had my walker since the end of February but it has taken me this long to get back into the swing of things.  I guess it's a process and I have to give myself some grace.  :)

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut butter bars crumbled into it

Lunch
1 toasted turkey BLT at Tim Horton's

Dinner
tuna casserole

PLUS
cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Great day for a bike ride!

Trina and I went for a bike ride after dinner tonight.  It was much too hot to go before then.  I am a bit frustrated in that I can't measure the whole distance we biked because calculating distance using directions in Google Maps only seems to work only if you stay on roads. We went 1.15 kms, plus about another 300-400 m on the paved trail around the baseball diamonds in the park.  So let's call it 1.5 kms today.  How is that?  :))

I bought an odometer for my bike tonight on eBay.  :)

I am drinking more water these days too!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
no breakfast

Lunch
1 BBQ sausage

Dinner
cheese quesadillas

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Incredible thunderstorms!

The thunderstorms the other night were amazing!!  HUGE claps of thunder.  Bright longh forks of lightning.

We saw Trina's high school's performance of Grease on Saturday night.  All 4 of us went.  Mom & Bruce and his grand daughter came too.  2 members of the cast are teens in our church.  I am so proud of them!  Many of the cast members are Trina's friends as well.  It was a fabulous show!!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch

Dinner
hamburger!

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

I did a lot of walking today!!

I had lots of errands to do on Friday so I walked 1.5 kms and then took the bus the rest of the way to the mall.

Then I met Trina downtown and walked another 1.4 kms

2.9 kms in one day!

You know how people like my friend A, who train for and run 10k runs?  I wonder if there are any 5k walks around that I could work towards?

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut butter bars crumbled into it.

Lunch
no lunch :(

Dinner
2 pieces pepperoni pizza

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Lunch with a friend today!!

I did what is becoming my usual walk after going to the chiropractor today...1.4 kms from Queenston/Woodman to Queenston/Parkdale.

I went for lunch with a new friend today.  K is the fiancée of one of the brothers in the church.  The whole congregation is just thrilled for them.  They make an awesome couple!

I was not able to go to my friend's brother's wake tonight.  :((  I woke up from my afternoon nap with a very bad back and I knew I could not stand the more-than-an-hour-long drive each way.  My back complains very loudly after only a few minutes in a car.  I iced it and it helped some.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and peanut bar crumbled into it

Lunch
Yogurt parfait with granola (very similar to my breakfast smoothie) and coffee at McDonald's

Dinner
grilled cheese sandwich

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

June is here!

And it is glorious outside!  25 degrees Celsius and breezy.
Midweek tonight!!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut bars crumbled into it.

Lunch
leftovers chicken quesadillas but they were NO WHERE NEAR AS GOOD without salsa. (We finished the salsa the other night)

Dinner
Spaghetti with home made sauce AND garlic bread I am making right now in the bread maker.

Actually it is the 2nd loaf that is mixing right now.  I am making two loaves.  One for us tonight and one for my friend's family whose brother just passed away on Sunday.  I am also bringing spaghetti sauce and spaghetti for them.

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Tues May 31 I love IKEA furniture!

It was REALLY hot today!  High of 34C but humidex of 42C!!!  I did go for a walk, though.  Before we reached the high temperature of the day.  When I went out to Subway to get my free breakfast, I walked home 1.2 kms  I was home by 10:30 am and I did not go out until 6 pm when it was STILL stinkin' hot!!!

Fun times tonight with Traci!  We went to her place Tuesday night and assembled her dresser.  We also mapped out her room in terms of furniture by placing masking tape on the floor where each of the pieces of furniture would go.  I should have taken a picture before we left of the empty room with the masking tape on the floor, but I did not think of it.  :(( Here are picture,s though, of the dresser we put together.  They are not difficult to assemble, but they always seem to take longer than I think they will.

Lots of pieces!!!

Still need the drawers and the back.

We got the back on.  But no one can notice that we put it on upside down, right???  :)

Finished product!!  This photo is from the IKEA website.  My photo was awful!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
FREE coffee plus a ham and cheese and egg sandwich with added green peppers at Subway! 

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and peanut b

Dinner
PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate 

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Sunday May 29

Sunday was a full day.  Trina and I went to church in the morning, which is always awesome!  But Sunday May 29 was a special day.  All the churches across Canada in our fellowship:

TORONTO (1985), VANCOUVER (1990), MONTREAL (1992), CALGARY (1995), OTTAWA (1995), WINNIPEG (1997), HALIFAX (1997), HAMILTON (2001), EDMONTON (2001), NEWMARKET (2005), TRI-CITIES (2005), QUEBEC (2003)

were fasting for what we are calling the Canada 20/20 Vision.  The Vision includes international and regional co-operation, conferences, Canadian School of Missions, Canadian Teachers Training, Hope Youth Corps, planting new churches and a lot more.  So all across Canada, disciples were fasting on the last Sunday of May.  It is going to be an annual event.  I cannot fast from food because of my meds.  I fasted from coffee.  That was a sacrifice!  Silly me forgot to bring water to church to drink in place of the coffee.

On Sunday, we had a family BBQ at Mom & Bruce's place.  Everyone was there, plus my aunt N who is up visiting from NB.  We had a great time.  Gerry left VERY early.  My cousin drove the girls and I home in an amazing thunder and lightning rain storm.  I kept my eyes closed and face covered against the flashing lightning the whole way home from St Catharines to Hamilton.

When we got home from the BBQ, I saw on a Facebook posting from my friend that her brother had died.  He was only 45.  A sad day for sure, but my friend is happy her little brother is no longer suffering.  I want to go to the funeral on Friday.  I am praying to get a ride worked out to be able to go.



What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
peanut butter on toast

Dinner
BBQ hamburger plus potato and pasta salads at a family BBQ
plus 1 birthday cupcake with icing and sprinkles  :)

PLUS
ZERO cups of coffee with flavoured creamer-I was fasting from coffee
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Monday May 30

|I went to the chiroprator this am. Then I walked partway home.  1.4 km walk from Queenston/Woodman across the Red Hill Pkwy to Queenston/Parkdale

Monday evening was fun.  My friend, R's birthday is in early June.  Every year I treat her to decadent cake or cheesecake and coffee at Williams Café.  And she does the same for me.  It is perfect that our birthdays are almost exactly 6 months apart.  :)  We both had chocolate explosion cheesecake and coffee.  They brewed a fresh pot of decaf for us so we had our cake before they brought us our coffee.  R and I put our forks down after a couple of bites, because we needed a drink!  The cake was SO rich!  Our coffee soon came but I would have been just as happy with a tall glass of milk!

R and I go out for coffee every week on Mon nights.  Summer time is more difficult because of her son's soccer and her weekend trips to the cottage.  But we try.  Williams, though, is reserved for twice a year.  That keeps it special.  I really enjoy it.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and crumbled peanut butter bars

Lunch
no lunch because breakfast was quite late

Dinner
whole wheat chicken quesadillas with chicken, cheese and salsa! VERY YUMMY!!!

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-

Toodles!

5/28/2011 Hi everyone!

I'm baaack!!  Although maybe only my friends A.C. and B.H. might have wondered about, or even been aware of, my lack of posting.  :)

Sorry for not writing for a few days. I am not quite sure why I did not write on Wednesday.  Nothing extra special happened on Wednesday.
Thursday, however, was a big day.  Traci had all 4 of her wisdom teeth taken out under general anesthetic.  Thank you so much to C.W. for driving us there!
Traci was nervous and anxious but she was a trooper. I was surprised.  The surgery took just under an hour. She was in recovery for about 40 minutes before she was cleared to leave.  She was pretty  groggy but not crazily so.  She asked me to take pictures of her so  she could see what she looked like.  Traci made me promise not to post the pictures, although I had no intention of doing that.   The cutest, funniest thing she said in recovery a la David After The Dentist  was "Are my lips closed?" She said it in such a cute voice!  Of course, she could not feel her lower face or mouth or chin!  We stopped on the way home for the beloved Tylenol 3"s (Tylenol with codeine). Traci was REALLY beginning to feel pain by the time we got home.  She was very grateful for the painkillers. Thanks so much to A.Z. for driving us home!!

Traci has been making use of the T3's, frozen corn and peas, and the hand blender to purée her food.

She is actually out tonight, sleeping over at her friend's house.  Traci was REALLY hoping that they could go to Booster Juice tonight.  Traci has been craving a Booster Juice since the surgery.   Her friend is wonderful and she promised to be sure Traci ices her cheeks every hour on the hour for 20 minutes.  Although Traci has been very responsible with her self care.  I am very proud of her!

I JUST realized as I type this that even though I would not wish this pain on my daughter (or anyone), I have enjoyed being able to be here to take care of her.  Traci is VERY capable and reliable and responsible.  Sometimes, though, you need more help than usual.  :)

My friend is running in a half marathon tomorrow.  Go A!!  I am proud of you already!

Tomorrow we are going to a family BBQ to celebrate my mom's husband's 71st birthday!  Happy birthday B!!
Having said that, Traci has decided to go to WORK tomorrow!!  5.5 hour shift.  It is not uncommon, though, for her to be sent home early if it is not busy.  We shall see how it goes.

Toodles!

Date night!

Gerry and I went to IKEA today to exchange some glasses we bought a couple of weeks ago.  One of them had a chip in it.  It was nice just the 2 of us.  We had hot dogs for dinner at IKEA.  I knew it would be too late for him to wait for me to cook dinner once we got home.  I joked with him that I was a cheap date as we sat eating our hot dogs.  :)  I really like that fun light banter! 

PS The girls are on their own for dinner.  :)


What I have eaten today:

Brunch
1 large smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
2 hot dogs plus a small chocolate milk

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Breakfast in Bed!!

I was awoken this morning only to be served breakfast in bed!!  Trina said there was no special reason.  She just had the idea and followed through with it.  And she made my day even before I got out of bed!

Trina and I did our chores and chilled.  Gerry got home at 2 pm but had called earlier asking if we wanted to go out and do something.  We ended up using some Wagjag coupons at DQ!  Yummy Reese's Blizzard!

Trina and I walked 1.5 km (a tiny part of the way to DQ) I really wanted to get a walk in, especially because we were going to have 10,000 calorie Blizzards!:)  Gerry picked us up and we drove the rest of the way there together.  Ice cream twice in 3 days!  I asked "What is the world coming to?"  Trina said, "Summer!!"  That girl is so quick and witty!


Here is an example of her humorous quick wit!  She noticed this, took the picture and posted it on Facebook all before we got home. thanks to her Blackberry.  Much to Gerry's chagrin!

Trina's caption was "Nice parking job, Dad!"  Can you see the lines?  

 

 

 

I just LOVE when people take pictures of me from behind!  NOT!! 

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
pancakes and toast

Lunch
Reese's Blizzard!

Dinner
nothing

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

I do not know why but I have not been motivated at all to do my exercises.  Have you noticed?  Hmmmm

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Nice day today

I am listening to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs playing the Houston Aeros in Game 6 of the Calder Cup conference playoffs.  They are going into 2OT momentarily.  The Dogs were down 3 games to zero.  Sudden death loss and Hamilton is done for the season.  OT win for the Dogs means Game 7 on Tuesday. It's nerve wracking!
EDIT: Dogs win!! Dogs win!!  5-4 in 2OT.  Game 7 is on Tuesday

Trina and I took the bus home from church and we took the opportunity to walk about 1 km before we caught the bus.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
no breakfast

Lunch
1 toasted ham sandwich with mayo

Dinner
pasta with homemade sauce

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

It is a beautiful day today!!

More euchre for the 3 of us girls this am!!  I think the euchre has replaced Rummikub as our game of choice now.

Trina and I are going for a bike ride this afternoon.  Down to Central, across to Montgomery Park, through the Park to Maple and home again.  1.2 km 
EDIT We didn't get to go on our ride.  Hopefully we can go tomorrow afternoon.

And more euchre this afternoon!

How is this for family time on a b-e-a-utiful day??!!  BBQ burgers, then Stoney Creek Dairy, then road trip to Waterloo, to see Traci's new place. Dropping her off for a few days and LOTS of her stuff.

The BBQ was out of propane so Gerry had to go get the tank filled, along with the rest of Hamilton, apparently.  It still wouldn't work.  So I did them on the stove.  The the girls packed the car.  And it was packed full with the 4 of us and all the stuff we were taking to Traci's place.  No room even for my walker.  I had to use my cane.  I do not want to make that a habit at all.  Ice cream was great!  The drive was fun but brutal on my back.

Traci's place is nice.  The only pictures I got were of Trina posing in Traci's (empty) room.

The door to her room is where I was standing to take the window picture.

And this is a picture of the front of the building before it was all finished.


What I have eaten today:

LATE Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

no Lunch

Early Dinner
BBQ burgers!  YUMMY!!

PLUS
2 scoop ice cream cone at Stoney Creek Dairy
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Family time!!

Got an email from Gerry today:


"maybe later on Sat we can to to Stoney Creek Dairy after supper"!!

Woo hoo!!  Stoney Creek Dairy is a local well-loved ice cream parlour.  4 person family time, I hope.  I don't know for sure if both of the girls are going to be home on Sat night for dinner and the evening.  I sure hope so!  I texted both of the girls that we are going to go. Traci is excited!!  Now we shall wait to see if Trina will be coming with us too.  Update: Trina is coming too!! 


Gerry usually gets at least 1 scoop of his 2 scoops rainbow sherbet.  I get a decadent chocolate-fudge-y scoop plus 1 scoop of peanut butter chocolate.  Trina gets at least 1 scoop of cookie dough ice cream.  I can't think offhand what Traci gets.  Chocolate something for sure!


AND...the girls and I were going to play some more euchre today after dinner.  I asked Gerry if he wanted to play, even though he had just said he was getting tired and was going to bed soon.  No harm in asking, right?  He said yes!  So all 4 of us played a game of euchre!  Gerry and I were down 6-0 but came back to win 10-8.  

God is good!!

Also, I went for a walk to day after the chiropractor. Close to 0.5 km on my way to and then the same distance on my way home from doing an errand.


What I have eaten today:


Breakfast
sausage, egg and cheese on a biscuit, hash brown, orange juice


Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries with peanut butter bars crumbled into it.


Dinner
pepperoni pizza


PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate
1 bowl of french vanilla ice cream with homemade chocolate syrup.


My exercise routine. Each set includes:


Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time


1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Thurs May 19-Family time?

Traci and Trina and I looked up how to play 3 handed euchre on Tuesday night and had a great time playing together!!  And then Trina asked Traci and I if we wanted to play Wednesday afternoon before dinner.  So much fun!  Special time with my girls! 

Sure wish we had 4 person family time, though.  It is just about non existent.  For example, last weekend, he was gone from 7am until midnight on Saturday and on Sunday, he got up at 9 am, and watched movies and TV shows of his choosing all day and went to bed at 6 pm, stopping only to eat. There are some exceptions.  This weekend, he might be driving Traci to Waterloo.  But then again that is not family time for the whole family.

I waver between being sad about that and kind of throwing my hands up in the air and accepting it and making the best of the time us 3 girls have together. 

It's true that Gerry works so much that he has VERY little free time during the week (like 1 hour/day),  But I guess what hurts is that he is choosing to spend that time pretty much doing what he wants alone.  Family time suffers greatly!  He might be in the house, but he is not present.  And on the weekends, when he has more time, it is usually similar to last weekend..  More of the same.

I wonder what God ha planned?

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 bowl of Shreddies

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
1 sausage plus potatoes and corn

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate
1 small bowl of chocolate/peanut butter ice cream!  YUMMY!!

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time
1st set-11:00 pm-v-sit
2nd set-
 
Toodles!

Wed May 18, more home improvement stuff!

Mom & Bruce came over today.  Bruce put up one of Cindy's beautiful pictures for me (after he mounted it for me!). Cindy's photography site is Once Upon A Childhood.  She specializes in photographing children but she does all kinds of photography. 

I had originally intended to give this to my mom, it is totally her style, but she had nowhere to put it.  It really livens up my dining room!

Bruce had a sink he had replaced and was going to try and put it in our vanity.  Our sink is damaged.  But it doesn't fit.  We talked about getting a new vanity which could be cut so the sink could fit.  It's not worth it, though.  The sink is a bit old (but in better shape than our sink)  If we are going to get a new vanity top, we should get a new vanity!  Bruce said that if the new vanity has a smaller footprint than he will fix the floor too.  We have extra tiles from when the floor was done last year.  Bruce also put a new-to-us light in the bathroom. But he had to install the light pointing upwards because the medicine cabinet is in the way. And moving the medicine cabinet down would leave holes in the walls.  We should also paint the bathroom too.  What would look very nice is a mirror where the medicine cabinet is, the light pointing down as it should, and a new vanity which would come with a new top.

I had to stand in the tub to get this picture!  The stuff on the left of the sink is what I took out of the vanity so Bruce could do the sink-work.  The brush should not be there.  (Trina!)  Oh, I forgot...we are also going to get rid of the towel rack.  I think we should hit up the Hamilton's Habitat For Humanity ReStore for dome of this stuff.


Midweek tonight!!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 bowl of Shreddies.

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
Traci made tuna casserole

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:46 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Tues May 17-Wet and rainy still!

I sure wish we could send at least some of this rain to Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada! The town of 7,000 has been at least 1/3 burned down because of wildfires. It is still burning.  :(

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 bowl of Shreddies.

Lunch
tuna melts-Traci makes the best tuna melts!

Dinner
Original Kraft Dinner-the Original is still the best

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-7:08 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

I can hear!!

I went to the ENT clinic today and now I can hear!!  All 4 of us are happy.  We were certainly getting frustrated.  It certainly enlightened me as to the challenges that the hard-of-hearing or the deaf must go through.

I also went for a short 600m walk today on my way to the clinic.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 bowl of Shreddies with bananas

Dinner
ham, mashed potatoes, corn

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time

1st set-11:58 am-v-sit
2nd set-11:16 pm-plank

Toodles!

Worshiping God in the drizzly rain this am!!

It was our first service in the park of the summer.  It was raining lightly and drizzly and every now and then the wind blew and we got a bit more of a shower from the water in the trees.  It didn't hurt us any!  And we had some great worship and fellowship, too.

I have decided to add some cardio to my set of exercises.  I am going to start with 2 compete sets down and up of our stairs that go from our main level to the landing to the basement.  5 stairs to the landing and 7 stairs to the basement.  I am going to do them quickly, holding on to the railings, of course.  We will see how that goes.  I haven't counted but I am sure I already go up and down those stairs for some reason or another (laundry, freezer, something for/from Trina's room) half a dozen times a day!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries with peanut butter bars crumbled into it

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries with peanut butter bars crumbled into it

Dinner
chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, corn

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:

Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
Stairs-2 sets each time

1st set-8:48 am-v-sit
2nd set-8:58 pm-plank

Toodles!

Thurs May 12-Forgot to post this post!

OOPS!!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 bowl of Shreddies.

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
potatoes, fish sticks, corn

PLUS
cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:46 pm-v-sit
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

A fabulous evening last night and an interesting day today!

We picked up Traci last night.  :)  She was disappointed that Gerry chose to stay in the "cell-phone lot" to wait for my call so as not to incur parking charges.  Trina was not there either as she is at the leadership conference at McMaster this weekend.  I tried my best to make her homecoming special.  We did stop at McDonald's on the way home and her stomach tolerated it OK.  They had had burgers one day on an excursion so they were not totally removed from junky greasy food for two weeks.  :)

Traci and I talked all the way home and until 1 am!  Sweet time together!  It is now 3 pm on Saturday and she is still sleeping.  She did get up to eat something and post 200 pics to Facebook, and then she went back to bed.  :)

She is definitely calling this trip an extraordinary trip of lifetime.  It is very evident by the pictures and descriptions of sob fests and the goodbyes at the airport that this group became very tight knit over the course of the 2 weeks, with each other, with their translator, Esteban, and with the kids in their community.  Traci is talking about another trip.  We will see what \God has planned for her.

I am so proud of her for going and for stepping so radically out of her comfort zone!  Serving others here at home is one thing, serving others in a central American country with different food, so-so water, exposing yourself to scorpions, mosquito net-equipped sleeping arrangements, hardly any power, no ipod or phone.  I am so proud of her!!  I realized I had told that to many people but I had not told her.  So I did today: tears running down my face and a big hug!!

I went to a fundraising brunch this morning. My friend and her husband work for the Navigators of Canada and have a Celebrate Recovery Canada ministry. (Freedom from your hurts, hang-ups and habits through Christ’s power).  They are doing great work for the Kingdom!  I made a small contribution.  I was honoured to be invited and to be there!

I only walked 550m today on my way home from the hotel where the brunch was.  But it was slightly uphill and in misting rain.  That was enough!  :)

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
brunch-scrambled eggs, yogurt, bacon, sausage, coffee

Lunch
no lunch

Dinner
pepperoni pizza

later meal
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

PLUS

3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:52 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:56 pm-plank

Toodles!

Fri May 13-Traci comes home tonight!!

I am so excited to see Traci!  It is about a 1.5 hour drive to the airport.  I wonder if Traci will be hopped up on adrenaline or whether she will crash right away in the car.  She SAYS she wants McDonald's on the way home.  I want to give her what she wants but I wonder if her stomach will be able to tolerate McDonald\s food after 2 weeks of rice and beans!

I dropped Trina off at a leadership conference at McMaster University this morning. The conference goes from Friday morning until Sunday evening, so Trina won't see Traci until Sunday night. I am planning on asking Traci if she wants to go pick up Trina on Sunday night,  I am going to give her some money and tell her to take Trina to Starbucks or something just so they can get some "sister-time".

I went to a chiropractor for the first time today.  Since I have been having this pain for months, he thinks I will need intensive treatment for a while to notice a difference, hopefully.  I went today and will go, Mon, Wed, Fri next week and probably the week after that too.  And then we will see.

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
slept through lunch

Dinner
spaghetti

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-

Toodles!

McHappy Day today!

It was McHappy Day today.  So Gerry and I went to McDonald's for dinner. (Trina did not want to.)  I had a Big Mac & fries.  Proceeds were going to our local Ronald McDonald House with is right beside our AWESOME children's hospital.  We very rarely eat at Mc|Donald's.

Gerry went home from there.  I walked partially to midweek. I mapped it, 1.3 kms!  I walked that far and then got on the bus the rest of the way.

Pretty good day; 3 meals, 2 exercises and a 1.3 km walk!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 bowl of Shreddies cereal with milk

Dinner
Big Mac and fries (it was McHappy Day, proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House Charities).

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-1:16 pm-v-sit
2nd set-4:22 pm-plank
3rd set-10:27 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

I'm breaking down!!

It is a very nice day again today...not as nice as yesterday though.  I walked about 2 kms this am.  YES!

I have an appointment on Monday for my ears.  I can't hear out of my right ear and it is ringing.  I called my friend's chiropractor and I am going to go see him.  Maybe some chiropractic treatment will help my right back and hip and leg.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 Tim Horton's sausage on a bagel, with a hash brown and coffee

Lunch
nothing-meant to have a smoothie but it didn't happen

Dinner
chicken and salsa and cheese quesadillas

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate
a handful of licorice allsorts

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-10:00 am-v-sit
2nd set-11:00 pm-plank

Toodles!

Another glorious day today!

Beautiful sunshine and temps in the high teens.  In Nicaragua, Traci has been enduring temps of 37C, feels like 44!!  She did say last night that she burned, blistered, and was peeling.  :((

I went for a nice 1.5 km walk this morning. Got some baking done.  Went out for coffee/walk/errands with my friend, R, tonight.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 sausage biscuit with coffee and a cookie.

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
ham and cheese & mayo on a pita

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer

NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-1:03 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:56 pm-plank

Toodles!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Is Mother's Day a great day for you?  Or is it bittersweet because you are missing your children or missing your mom?

If you are a mother, do your children and the father of your children make this day special for you?

We had a great time at a Mother's Day BBQ my brother's house!  After we ate, most of us went for a walk around the park next door.  It was a glorious day!!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 cinnamon bun (they are all gone now)

late Lunch
1 BBQ hamburger, Mom's homemade coleslaw, tossed salad
+ cake.
Dinner
no dinner, full from lunch
snack of crackers later, though

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

No sets but I went on a walk today.  Me and my mom, my 2 brothers and their wives and kids and Trina.  My brother lives right next to a park with a playground, splash pad, and baseball diamonds.  We walked all around most of that!  And there is a lake right beside it too!


Toodles!

What are you doing for your mother tomorrow?

Our family is getting together for a BBQ lunch at my brother's house.  I am really looking froward to it.  Although my niece is sick, so she and my sister-in-law won't be there.  :(

I have a couple of books for my mom.  I have had them for months!  One of them is a cookbook I KNOW she wants and will love. (I gave this cookbook to my s-i-l for Christmas and my mom wanted to take it home) Plus I also have a gardening book for her too!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, juice, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 hot dog at IKEA

Dinner
pasta with homemade sauce
1 cinnamon buns from IKEA!
crackers and egg salad (my new healthy snack)

PLUS
1 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-12:44 pm-v-sit
2nd set-8:38 pm-plank

Toodles!

Special Delivery On It's Way For Grace!!

I wrote my first letter to Grace, my sponsored child, today. 

When I first got the picture, I wondered why she wasn't smiling.  I was told that for these kids, getting their picture taken can be scary and/or considered a formal occasion.  Hence, no smile.  I think she is beautiful!

Her birthday is the day before Traci's.  Grace will be 10 this year.

I am so excited about building a relationship with her as best I can across the miles.  I read a story today about how much the children appreciate the letters we send them.  You can find it here in a post from the Blogging From The Boonies blog.  Have the Kleenex ready!  I plan on writing to Grace at least once a month, hopefully twice a month.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
no breakfast

Lunch
crackers and egg salad

Dinner
pepperoni pizza

PLUS
0 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
:(

Toodles!

I miss my smoothies!

Dairy is supposed to be bad when you are congested but I sure am missing all my dairy products!  No smoothies, no cheese, no yogurt.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
crackers and hummus

Lunch
1 toasted ham sandwich with mayo

Dinner
1 toasted ham sandwich with mayo, I thought there was going to be salad fixin's too but nope!

evening snack, egg salad on whole wheat crackers

PLUS
1 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-10:41 am-v-sit
2nd set-1:52 pm-plank
3rd set-10:08 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Wed May 4, I am ready to get better any day now,,,,

I was feeling miserable yesterday.  I am sick of being sick.  I do not like stuck inside and I am SO missing not being able to go to church.

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
no breakfast
Lunch
toast
Dinner
pancakes

PLUS
0 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:56 pm-v-sit
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Tuesday May 3, Traci and her group got there safely!

I got an email yesterday:

****************

Hi Friends/Family of the Laurier SOS group in Nicaragua,

Just a quick note to let you know they are all in the community, happy, healthy and safe. Apparently one person’s (not sure who) backpack took a slight detour and is currently on route to the community but other than that, it is all going really well!

I’ll be sure to pass on any updates as I get them. Should you need anything over the next two weeks, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be in Canada for the duration of their trip.

Best,

Lindsay 

*********************

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
slept through lunch

Dinner
crockpot cream of mushroom soup chicken and rice

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-9:43 pm-v-sit
2nd set-

Toodles!

Two big events today.....

President Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden on Sunday night our time.  I didn't hear about it until Monday morning. I borrowed this from my friend Amber.   She put my feelings into words perfectly.

I'm thankful and relieved that bin Laden can no longer cause terror, but I do not think it is appropriate to be celebrating his death. I'm not saying he was an innocent man by any means, but it just doesn't seem right to celebrate someone being killed, no matter how evil - God will judge him now.

Proverbs 24:17-18 (New International Version, ©2011)

 17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them.

The other big thing going on today is (ANOTHER) election in Canada. This is the 3rd on in 5 years or something like that.  The results have been minority governments for the last few elections.  Looks like it might be that way today too.  Traci and I voted in the advance polls.  She is in Nicaragua right now and could not vote on election day.  She was very excited to be able ot vote! I am torn between the three main parties.  

The ruling Conservative party, under Stephen Harper, has Canada in the best position economically in the G7 (or the world) after the recession.  Our banks and economy are the envy of the world.  I do not like him, though.  He is very cold and mechanical to me.  And he was cited for Contempt of Parliament!  He is not been very open at all to the public during this campaign (everything is scripted, banning people from his rallies, not taking questions from the people and/or very few questions from reporters).

The New Democratic Party is surging. They are a more socialist party.  I like what they say but maybe it is just because I don't get economics so much. But in the 90's (?) thee NDP party made a MESS of Ontario\s economy!  So as far as we know, the NDP does not get economics either.  They have never governed,  They are unproven.  And the local NDP candidate has a nasty past.  I won't vote for him.

The Liberal party is in the middle of the other 2 parties ideologically and has just tanked according to the polls.  It looks like they will finish 3rd among the top 3 parties  That has never happened before.  Michael Ignatieff had a much more open campaign.  His rally that I went to was not scripted and he took many (unknown) questions from the audience.

Polls close at 9:30 pm tonight.  We shall see.

9:47 pm- CTV is calling a Conservative win already
10:11 pm CTV declaring NDP as the official opposition.
10:12 pm It's going to be very close to a majority for the Conservatives.
10:15 pm Looks like the NDP candidate in my riding will win.
10:42 pm I have had enough. It looks like a majority.


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch

Dinner
ham and potatoes
1 bowl ice cream

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-7:08 pm-v-sit
2nd set-9:50 pm-plank
3rd set-

Toodles!

A couple of firsts today

I had a first ever today.  I took Buckley's.  Their slogan is: It tastes awful and it works"
 It wasn't that bad.  It was quite menthol-y.  It reminded me of Vick's Vapo-Rub. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I don't mind the smell of skunk at all!  LOL  I hope it helps.  I'm sure it will take a few doses to really notice a difference.

The other first today was not going to church for the first time in a LOOOONG time, maybe since I broke my leg.  Not sure.  So Trina gets home from church and says "Everyone says hi"  That was encouraging!  I decided not to go because I am so run down.  I am coughing and (trying to) clear my throat very often.  That would certainly disturb the service.  And I did not want to get anyone else sick!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
slept through lunch

Dinner
tuna casserole
1 bowl of ice cream

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-10:43am-v-sit
2nd set-7:00 pm-plank
3rd set-9:28 pm-plank

Toodles!

Saturday April 30th-Traci is in Nicaragua as I write this!

All 4 of us got up early and drove to the airport this morning.  We stopped for breakfast at Tim's, which was nice.  I am so glad, too, that I thought to pray for her trip while we were all in the car.  I prayed she will be safe, that it will be the trip of a lifetime, that she will really immerse herself as much as possible into the local culture, that God will show her (and she will see) amazing things in such a different part of the world.  I have been praying for this trip for a long time but it was nice to pray together.

I slept a lot today.  I am not feeling well.  I am sure Wednesday and Friday are contributing muchly to how I am feeling. Doing too much and too much stress!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 sausage breakfast sandwich on a biscuit, and a hash brown.

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
no real dinner...grabbing a few things.

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-9:00 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:05-plank

Toodles!

Fri April 29-What a day!!!!!

Oh my, my, my! 

Traci and I were packing her suitcases and organizing things in the late morning.  Somehow the topic of passport came up and she wasn't 100% sure where it was but she knew she had put it somewhere safe where she would remember it.  So she checked the half dozen or so places she thought it would be..nope.  She checked those places again. I checked them....nope.  Then we started going through all her as-yet-unpacked stuff.  Boxes of kitchen utensils, bedding, school books, etc.  No passport.  We went through all the boxes again.  Nothing! We are both getting very worried.  At this point, she is leaving in less than 24 hours.

I called the passport office.  Yes she could get a replacement passport today but we had to get ourselves to the office right away.  We found the forms online and printed them.  Traci filled them out as I got dressed and ready to go.  I think we left the house at 1 pm.  The passport office closes at 4:30 pm!!

First stop was City Hall to get one of the forms signed by someone who could act in a legal capacity,

Then a 10 minute walk to the passport office, which was in the mall downtown.  We were SO grateful for the office being in that mall, as you will see.

First trip to the passport office, and Traci was told she needed new passport photos.  Gerry had mentioned that during one of the times we were talking to him about this. But they did not mention it when I called the office from home.  So downstairs we go to the nearest photo place in the mall to get a passport photo taken. The lady took the photo and showed Traci what it looked like.  Traci did not care.  :)  She just wanted the pictures ASAP. While we were waiting for the photos, we walked across the hall to get some fries at McDonald's.  We were both hungry!  Ate the fries, got the passport photos, and headed back to the office.

Second trip to the passport office seemed to go well.  The receptionist was awesome!  She recognized Traci and said "You are going to hater me"  Traci asked why. "Because your guarantor needs to sign your photos"  Whew!!  That was OK because I was acting as the guarantor!  Got our number, waited in line, Traci went up to the clerk.  Uh oh!  She needed to have a copy of her itinerary, some proof that she was actually travelling the next day. But she DID start the process, thank God!  And Traci paid through the nose for her new passport. So Traci gathered everything up and off we went to the library, which was ALSO in the mall, to print a copy of a couple of pages of her trip information document that included her itinerary with dates.

Third trip to the office, Traci just handed the pages to the receptionist.  They all knew who Traci was now and were doing all they could do get her the passport! I did not go to the office with her that time.  I went to Tim Horton's where we were going to eat some real food and probably wait until 4:30, or so we thought, for the passport to be ready.  We ordered our food and we were just about to eat when Traci got a text message from the office!

Fourth trip!  I stayed at Tim's with our food, not eating, as I did not want to eat without Traci.  15 or 20 minutes passed with no word from or no re-appearance of Traci.  I texted her saying I was on my way to her.  I packed up our food and everything and left.  I stopped for a sec outside.  Good thing!  I had forgotten my purse and the man sitting beside me rushed lout with it!  Whew!!

I got to the office and Traci said that they had needed her to sign another form having to do with her itinerary.  And then they told her to wait for the passport.  So she did and I did.  I think it was 4:20 when they handed it to her!  We thanked everyone profusely!

On the bus home, I was just out of it.  I was so tired from the stress and anxiety and all the walking we did.  I went right to bed when we got home.  Traci made the pizza.

Oh my!!!

Legal signature at City Hall-$20
Passport photos-$15
New passport-$87
Rush charge-$70
Food and fries-$15

New passport so Traci could go on the trip of a lifetime to Nicaragua-PRICELESS!


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 Tim Horton's Turkey Bacon Club sandwich on whole wheat
1 Boston Cream donut

Dinner
2 pcs homemade pepperoni pizza

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

I did WAY too much yesterday.......

...and paid for it today.  I helped Traci move upstairs and made MANY trips up and down our stairs yesterday.  I also went to the dentist and walked 1.3 kms (part of the way home).  And then I bussed it both ways to and from midweek service last night.

I was up early this am because my cleaning lady was coming at 8 am.  I LOVE how the house looks after Debbie is here!  

I started dozing on the couch around 10:30 am.  Gerry called around 11 am saying the power was out at his workplace so he might be leaving.  He called at noon saying they were letting them go and would be home for dinner.  :(  Good that he would be home for dinner, bad that he was not coming home until then.  Maybe he and Traci could have hung out for a bit before she leaves for 2 weeks.  (sigh) When Gerry called at noon, he thought I had had a seizure!  I guess I sounded pretty bad.  I am quite sure I have not had a seizure, though.  I do not feel THAT bad.

I slept until 4:30 pm!!  Traci woke me to say she was leaving at almost 3 pm and Trina woke me up when she got home at 4 pm.  I finally got up at 4:45 pm because I would need to think about dinner!

We had horrendous windstorms today.  And it was garbage day!  :(  Blue boxes and garbage cans were blowing down the street, not to mention their contents!   We lost both of our blue boxes.  Oh well.  Other people had it MUCH worse, 100 high school students were pulled from Hamilton harbour when the sudden windstorm tipped some of their rowing boats!  All were OK.  My mom and her husband lost power at 9 am and still don't have it back as of now (9pm)  (They had their power restored at 10:13 pm) A man in St. Catharines lost his life as the wind blew his garage door off of its hinges and it hit him in the head and killed him.  Trees and branches are down everywhere.

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
slept through lunch

Dinner
fried egg sandwich

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-9:52 pm-v-sit
2nd set-11:02 pm-plank

Toodles!

Well, Traci is pretty much moved upstairs.

I did not do any sets of exercises today.  What I DID do was help Traci move her things to the upstairs room that is now her room/a guest room.   I must have gone up and down the 12 steps from the main level of the house to the basement at least 10-15 times, if not more!  Great exercise!

A friend of mine said today that: "Tracy (sic) needs to understand that she is just visiting between school terms . That house is yours and she should not be coming back causing such turmoil. She needs to be showing some respect to you, Jerry (sic) and Trina. It sounds like she has become very self focused. You do not owe her anything , especially your home. Just my opinion based on past advice with regard to my children."

But it is a done deal now.  I think it will be OK in the end but maybe I did just do what she wanted at mine and Trina's expense.  It really did/does not affect Gerry at all.  I don't think he cares!  But I REALLY do love the idea of having a guest room!!  And that room WILL be a guest room if someone is visiting, whether Traci is here or not.   I have a friend who comes once or twice a year and stays for 3-7 days each time.

I also walked 1.3 kms today...partway home from the dentist office.  I also did that same walk last Thursday on my way home from the dentist office.

My mom mentioned to me yesterday that she thought I had lost some weight.  :)  I hadn't really noticed and losing weight is a tertiary goal in my eating and exercising better.  My main goals are just to be putting healthier food into my body and maybe regaining some mobility and energy.  Besides it is a command of God.  And I have been failing at it miserably for a long long time.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New International Version, ©2011)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 banana

Dinner
1 ham and cheese sandwich

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

Toodles!

I want my house back!

Our house is a disaster!  Because all of Traci's stuff is here...a whole apartment's worth of stuff, except for furniture.  The downstairs kitchen is full of her stuff, the living room has lots of her stuff in it, as does her room which she shares with Trina.  And THAT sharing situation is getting a little sticky!  Traci is now used to her own space and just being here is kind of weird for her and sharing a room with Trina is causing some friction.  I guess that is to be expected but it is a bit challenging to deal with.  We shall see how it pans out.  All of a sudden our house feels small!

It sure is great having Traci here, though!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
ham and potatoes and corn
1 bowl of Rocky Road ice cream

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:55 am-v-sit
2nd set-8:51 pm-plank

Toodles!

Easter Monday...getting ready for Nicaragua!

Chillin' with the girls today!!  Traci and I were out out on a shopping trip getting things she needs for Nicaragua.  Lots of fun, but she is lamenting the $$ she is spending.  Things like a air mattress, headlamp, 1L stainless water bottle, powdered Gatorade, etc etc.  We got a lot of it done.  She is feeling both overwhelmed and excited that she is leaving in 5 days!  Mostly overwhelmed right now.  It will be the trip of her lifetime so far, for sure!  Please pray for a safe trip both ways and for a great, safe experience for her and her whole group!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries (at lunchtime)

Lunch
no lunch :(

Dinner
nachos-yummy!!

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-2:34 pm-v-sit
2nd set-11:00 pm-plank

Toodles!

Sunday April 24th-Jesus Is Risen!

We had a beautiful, moving worship service this morning!  It was a service telling the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It was all done through with a combination of prayer, the congregation singing, Scripture readings, video from The Passion of the Christ, and the choir singing.  We have a lot of very talented singers in our church and they have been practicing for months.  They were wonderful!  If someone posts a clear picture of the choir, I will add it to the post.  If not, my cell phone camera picture, which is not very clear, will have to do.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
Goodies and treats after church today, including chocolate covered strawberries, fresh bread with spinach dip, plus a couple of cookies and mini muffins.

Dinner
Kraft dinner-have not had that in MONTHS!

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-7:45 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:20 pm-plank
3rd set-

Toodles!

Saturday April 23rd-Easter dinner

Easter dinner with the fam today!!  There were 17 of us!!  And there were 17 of these cute chocolate Lindt bunnies on the table.  My mom is so thoughtful!  Read below for our dinner menu.  It was amazing! 

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch :(

Dinner
Easter dinner at mom's!!!
Ham with pineapple, mashed portaties, scalloped potatoes with onions, turnip, carryot with onions, plain carrots, roll, turnip, peanuit butter squares, apple crisp, berry crisp, wine spritzers!!
How is that for dinner??

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
chocolate!

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Friday April 22nd

I am behind, so I am just trying to catch up right now.  :)

Traci had to go to Waterloo on Friday night for a meeting about her Nicaragua trip.  So Traci & Trina went together. Trina did homework in the Business building while Traci was in her meeting.  How cool; that the girls went on a little road trip and got to spend some good time together! (And Traci did not have to drive alone)  :))
 
What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch, I got up so late, it WAS lunchtime!

Dinner
ice cream  :(  I intended to make pizza when the girls got home, but I forgot.  The kids had eaten already.

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some Dairy Milk chocolate

Can\t remember if I did exercises.  :(
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Traci is home!!!

Traci's move went quite well today.  But even though we had a pickup truck, it would not all fit!  She left some of it there in her roommate's room to pick up on Tuesday.  The rest will all fit in the car.  I LOVE that apartment she was in!  I could TOTALLY live in an apartment like that!  4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 storage room, open concept kitchen and living room.

She is out tonight as I expected.  :)


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
tuna casserole that Traci made

Dinner
pancakes

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
Reese's chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-8:44 am-v-sit
2nd set-9:10 pm-plank

Toodles!

Tomorrow is the day!!

My mom and her hubby and I are going with his pickup truck to get Traci tomorrow from residence.  I am so excited that she is going to be home!  Although, I *think* she has plans to go out tomorrow night!  Even though she is going to be home for 4 months (less 2 weeks in Nicaragua), she will be working and she will be out and about a lot.  She will not be home much but it is a lot more than when she is at school!  I think she is hoping as well to spend a few days with one of her 1st year roommates in her hometown, who will also be one of her 2nd year roommates.  Traci and L are good friends and I am happy for them!

I am one excited Mom!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 bowl of granola cereal

Dinner
scrambled eggs

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:32 am-v-sit
2nd set-10:43 pm-plank

PS I ended up not doing that 3rd set of exercises last night.  I typed the time, published the post and promptly forgot about it!

Toodles!

So many people are having medical challenges!

My friend, R, has been having breathing challenges (that they are now calling heart issues) for a long time.  My other friend, G, had knee replacement surgery today.  And he is going to have to have the other knee replaced too!!  One of my aunts is being treated for 3 types of cancer.  One of my other aunts had a breast lumpectomy today...waiting for pathology results.  Another friend has a bad knee and just learned she does not need surgery, just yet.  Hopefully PT will be enough for her.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg!   We have a long list of people in our church, their family members, and friends who we are praying for various medical issues.

There are SO many people out there who are going through challenging times.  It really makes me appreciate my health, such as it is.  :)   And I am just addressing mediical issues.  There are emotional, financial and spiritual challenges too!  Thank you God for being in control!

...Lisa

PS Traci is home in 2 days!!


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 sandwich

Dinner
BBQ chicken, potatoes, corn

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-8:23 am-v-sit
2nd set-2:44  pm-plank
3rd set!!!-10:10  pm-v-sit


Edit 4/20/2011 I ended up not doing that 3rd set of exercises.  I typed the time, published the post and promptly forgot about it!

Toodles!

Easter dinner and seeing extended family this weekend...

I am so looking forward to Saturday when our extended family will all gather at my Mom & B's house for Easter dinner.  Mom was thinking of Gerry by having it on Saturday.  He won't want to leave early because he does not work on Sundays.  I so appreciate that!

Our family of 15 or so often gathers around 10 times year.  People tell me that is a lot.  I don't know if it is or not but I love getting together!  Seeing our nieces and nephews growing, my girls bringing/not bringing boyfriends, hearing about what is going on with my brothers and their families and others too!

Mom and her hubby-2
Brother 1 and his wife and their 2 kids.-4
Brother 2 and his wife and their 2 kids.-4
Us 4 plus 1 boyfriend-5
My dad's uncle-1
My cousin, D-1
My aunt?-1

I did the math.  That is 17 or 18!

It will be a wonderful time!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch

Dinner
Spaghetti with meat sauce

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:47 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:34 pm-plank

Toodles!

Saturday ....another good day!

We are going to play cards with friends this afternoon!  We LOVE playing euchre with them but it has been many months since we last played.  Then we are going to enjoy dinner at their place.  YUM!!  L is an amazing cook and hostess!

Then we are going to a Love and Respect conference.  The church is doing a 5 week series over 5 months.  It has been very eye opening and interesting.  I am excited that Gerry wants to go together!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
Dinner out.

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer

NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:47pm-v-sit
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!